No doubt on Manmohan Singh's sincerity: Pak PM

Published: Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 11:05 [IST]

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Islamabad, Aug 4 (ANI): Pakistan's Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has showered praise on his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh, saying that he had no doubt about his sincerity towards the peace process.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Gilani said: "We, in Pakistan, have no doubt about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's sincerity in working to improve Pakistan-India relations by addressing the issues that have divided us or bedevilled our relations for decades."

He said on Monday that the joint statement issued after a meeting with Dr Singh in Sharm el-Sheikh was a victory for both Pakistan and India.

Gilani said that a sustained dialogue and engagement with India were the real way forward and it was important to resume the composite dialogue as it offered a mechanism to thrash out differences over disputes like Kashmir and water.

"It is our conviction that a durable peace and stability in South Asia can only be established by making meaningful progress toward resolving outstanding issues," he added.

Commenting on a perception in India that the Sharm el-Sheikh declaration was a victory for Pakistan, Gilani said: "We have seen some disquiet, being expressed in India by certain circles, on the outcome of the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, but we believe that at this historic juncture it is imperative not to be swayed by partisan considerations."

"It is essential to keep our sights on the long-term vision and the summit outcome must not be viewed in a zero-sum perspective, for, this is a win-win for both sides as the cause of peace in South Asia has been advanced," Gilani said. (ANI)